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GRATEFUL ATHLETES FIGHT AGAINST ENTITLEMENT
Jesus had every right to demand the world when He came to earth. He did, in fact, help create it—and everything in it. As the Son of God who is at the same time fully God, He could have established his Kingdom with power and authority. But He didn’t. He actually took the exact opposite approach. He became a servant. He was entitled to whatever He wanted, but He willingly chose to “humble Himself.”
And we would be wise to do likewise. Because entitlement stands in direct opposition to gratitude.
Grateful athletes recognize every blessing they receive as a gift they are not entitled to. Make no mistake, recognizing blessings in our entitlement-driven sports culture is something we need to fight hard to see. What types of blessings do we often take for granted as athletes?
Per diem money on a road trip. New shoes. New gear. Laundry being done on our behalf. Water or Gatorade received from a trainer. Tutors helping us pass classes. Teachers giving us grace because of our travel schedule.
Grateful athletes fight against the “I deserve” mentality that is so pervasive in our culture by thanking the giver of these gifts and frequently checking the posture of their heart.
Today’s Gratitude Challenge: Write out all the blessings in your life associated with your sport right now on a blank sheet of paper—or in the notes section of your phone. See if you can come up with a list of more than 20 things.
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About this Plan
Gratitude is like a muscle—it gets stronger if we consistently give it attention and push it beyond its level of comfort. Conversely, if we fail to exercise it consistently, our ability to be thankful atrophies. It needs to become a habit. With that in mind, here are seven habits of thankful athletes, mental choices that athletes can incorporate into their daily lives to grow and maintain their gratitude “muscles.”
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